Small ruminant production in India

With its economy traditionally based on agriculture, India is a great source of genetic biodiversity in plants and animals. Vastly different agroclimatic and socioeconomic conditions result in a wide geographic distribution of livestock in an ecosystem providing functional sustenance to man. Among livestock, small ruminants are reared by the poorest sections of rural populations with very small holdings. While the sheep population has remained fairly static over the years, the goat population has shown an annual growth rate of 1.34%. In north-western and semi-arid regions of the country, small ruminants are browsed or grazed on natural lands or wastelands and, in intensive crop production areas, in irrigated and rainfed regions, on crop residues. In the southern peninsular and eastern regions, flocks are maintained primarily on grazing. The indiscriminate migratory nature of sheep and goat grazing is hampering developmental programs and practices. Grazing practices often lead to land degradation and forage depletion. Technologies have been developed in various institutes to improve degraded range and wasteland under perennial pasture and silvi-pastoral systems. For optimal growth, supplement feeding to grazing is advantageous to early animal slaughter. Under crossbreeding programs, feed supplementation has resulted in lambs attaining 25 kg body weight at 130 days. Though considerable disease control and eradication measures have been undertaken, losses through pox, enterotoxemia and ecto- and endoparasites occur. Research into the control of parasitic problems should be increased. Effective programs of sheep and goat development should be addressed using a systems approach involving each major component of the production system. Such programs should include sustainability for efficient land use, nutrient recycling and flow, feed and fodder improvement, pasture development and systematic post-harvest technologies including marketing, pricing and trade.